MMD president Nevers Mumba has urged the PF-led government to suspend all “romantic” programmes and focus on resolving the crippling and chaotic energy crisis in the country.
Zambia is undergoing an economic debilitating energy crisis blamed on drastically reduced water levels in the Kariba Dam that has affected electricity generation.
Zesco initially started with a 4-hour load management which it doubled to 8 hours and even more.
The government is considering importing electricity from South Africa to cushion the deficit, which has taken a toll on micro, small-scale businesses for citizens.
Commenting on the energy crisis, Mumba said the country could not afford another week of “these eight-hour load-shedding experiments”.
He said the projection of the crisis threatens everything that makes a nation to survive.
He said leadership was the ability to anticipate disasters and to mitigate such disasters well before they happen.
“America is anticipating Hurricane Dorian in Florida. President Trump has cancelled his trip to Poland so that he can concentrate on mitigating the impact of the threatening hurricane. This is how you govern and this is why people vote for leadership, to avert national catastrophes,” he said.
“Zambia is facing the biggest energy crisis since independence. The projection of this crisis threatens everything that makes a nation to survive. PF government’s justification of our current crisis includes reasonable causes like low water levels at Kariba Dam and global climate change.
Unfortunately, none of these will shield the government from an imminent revolt by citizens if a solution is not found soon. The greatest fear is that we are still months away from the next rainy season. This means that load-shedding could extend from eight hours to twelve hours per day. The economic implication of such a development are too ghastly to contemplate.”
Mumba said productivity in all sectors shall be curtailed and the end result was a stagnant economy which has the potential to bring about political instability.
He said it was for that reason that MMD was calling upon the PF-led government to suspend all “romantic” programmes and focus on resolving the energy crisis.
Mumba said all efforts of the government must be targeted at solving the energy problem, not in months but in days.
He said during the president Levy Mwanawasa days, Zambia was faced with a huge debt crisis which had immobilised growth in the social sector.
Mumba, one of the Republican vice-presidents at the time, said Mwanawasa decided to focus his attention on resolving that threatening situation.
He said Mwanawasa cancelled most of his international trips, restricted the travel of ministers and permanent secretaries and allowed ambassadors and high commissioners to handle all international engagements.
“He further negotiated with the Public Service Unions to freeze salaries for civil servants. He also cut fuel and telephone benefits from senior government officials, including ministers. This was in addition to several other cutbacks made. The end result was that Zambia attained a debt free status since independence.
President Mwanawasa applied political will to achieve this great milestone on behalf of the Zambian people. Alongside these austerity measures, president Mwanawasa publicly and viciously tried to fight the scourge of corruption,” said Mumba.
“Zambia cannot afford another week of these eight-hour load-shedding experiments. It is unsustainable. Government must act now.”
Well spoken but does Edgars trip affect electricity problems
Mr. Mumba. Correction. The debt crisis you are talking about was third word-wide and in Zambia lt spiked during the Kaunda days. By the time of the Chiluba’s MMD, Third Word- countries where being told to restructure their economies to qualify for debt cancellation. At the time when Mwanawasa took over, most of the foundation had been laid. What remained were few finishing touches and the lenders immediately began the process of cancelling the debt. The fact that we did not have to spend as much money on debt as before. helped to boost the economy thereafter. So you can see it was not a one-man’s job as many biased commentators would like to make us believe.
Mwanawasa brought Vedanta
Don’t worry, be happy.
Government is seriously considering NUKE Energy options so that if does not rain one more year, the splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission will generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Because nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions. Essentially green Energy.
So no worries, if Sekwila Mumba can turn those turbines using is hands which are essentially turned by water in the hydro set up, why not volunteer Pastor Zambia shall be shaved.
Efyaume ifi imwe, ifitalika ati amenshi tayauma kwa Kariba.
The govt embarked of nuclear energy . You all refused but whether you like it or not, that’s the answer.. allow the govt to borrow huge and set up the plant.
Pastor Nervers Mumba I have been expecting your comment on allegations that you’ve demanded cash rewards for you to reconcile with your brother Felix Chipota Mutati. Please tell the nation. Anyway, silence means consent! We’ll make our own conclusions
PF has already found a solution to the on-going power crisis by importing electricity from SA. Let’s hope it is not another debt
Forthose of you who dont know, Zesco has been exporting power to SA since around 2009, before word cup 2010. Then SA exports to Botswana. SA does not have sufficient power to export to Zed. Also experienced lower rainfall. But in essence, SA has been sustained by Zesco… Do the maths
1. “… The greatest fear is that we are still months away from the next rainy season…” useless pastor is telling us the rainy season will start in February 2020??
2. For the debt relief you are trying to credit big cabbage for, refer to comment 1.1 old school.
3. The public service reforms you are also crediting the big cabbage with, ECL has already put in place austerity measures.
You are not saying anything of substance but trying to glorify that cabbage for political mileage. You personally destroyed MMD, bringing it from a 48 mp party to 3 mp party; from the second largest opposition to a 1% vote party.
“… This is how you govern and this is why people vote for leadership, to avert national catastrophes,…”
As far back as 2005, most of the mines were sold and the new owners were bringing in huge equipment which would consume colossal amounts of power. You were in leadership with the cabbage then, WHY DIDN’T” AVERT” the current power problem by investing in new power plants??
mwanawasa was the father of all travellings by zambian presidents, whats Mumba talking about. if LPM was never president, the rest wouldnt have been travelling the way they do.
Presidents need to travel especially 3rd world presidents.. investors or helpers don’t see seriousness of the nation when a president just stays home
Oh my God, these guys dont cease to amaze everyone. Mumba says “leadership was the ability to anticipate disasters and to mitigate such disasters well before they happen”, really? You can see how narrow and shallow minded people who claim to know better are. Leadership more than just being Situational, rather leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people, based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good. So if you can understand leadership in this context, you will notice that most of you guys, especially in the opposition, you aint leaders yet you expect people to put you in leadership! Leadership is NOT a position, you can lead from anywhere provided you are able to influence and inspire others to dream…
SAYS THIS USELESS BELLY MAN OF GOLD!!
Was it not you Nevers who despite ba President Jona Chakolwa confessing he “HAD NO VISION, ZERO WHATSOEVER” went ahead & canvassed for him to enter Plot #1, coz you wrongly believed ba Jona would elevate you to your desired position of Vice President??
You used your belly, & gluteus maximus to make a vital decision that is now hurting the Nation & it’s Citizens.
MANJE’ WAYAMBA KULILA NEVERS IWE’ GUMU GUMU!!
contd
Leadership is NOT a position, you can lead from anywhere provided you are able to influence and inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.
Some of you, and especially the likes of HH only think you can only lead when you get the highest job in the land, NO! Its high time we started being fraank and honest with you guys because its really too much of being petty at the expense of development. For instance, in your article Mr. Mumba, you expect others to find solutions to the electricity crises but what is your proposal to ending this load-shedding in short, medium and long terms? That’s the debate we expect instead of heaping blame on others. When ZESCO asks for a cost Reflective tariff, you are the loudest to oppose it, in case of the desperate HH, he even…
contd
When ZESCO asks for a cost Reflective tariff, you are the loudest to oppose it, in case of the desperate HH, he even says he will reduce electricity tariffs, how crazy! Where then are you going to get funds to manage the complex electricity infrastructure if you cant have cost reflective tariffs and you cheat people that you will reduce electricity tariffs?
They say cheap is expensive and this is exactly what Zambia is currently experiencing now because you want everything to be either for free or cheap without understanding the consequences. Is it just now that you have known that in the absence of sustainable and reliable energy (electricity), and good road infrastructure, there is no economy to talk about? Lets learn some lessons from these episodes and be real, factual about…
contd
Lets learn some lessons from these episodes and be real, factual about what we want our country to be. Look at countries like Singapore, you will be amazed at what level of development they are and yet here you are opposing the necessary interventions for development.
2021 vote HH or MUMBA for more rainfall!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is not a new problem.we have
Had this problem for some years.
We still can’t find better solutions.
How can we fail to supply basic
Electricity to a small Zambian population .We have wrong priorities.
Pastor Mumba, why then did Mwanawasa discard you if your political sight was as you’re claiming now?
I thought we would be reading NAREP ‘something ‘ by now!
Was the defection fake?
Dr Nevers this issue of electricity is a known factor and as a Zambian you should offer solutions and not just talking.Zambians are good at talking but when it comes to solution,it becomes another issue so Tata please just bring solutions on the table, we have heard a lot of talking especially you Dr who have even tested the seat of VP.
One important consideration that no-one seems to talk about is SOLAR ENERGY. Zambia is endowed with sunshine throughout most of the year – and especially this time ( Aug – Nov) when the rivers are at their lowest. This would be the perfect time to kick in solar. My proposal would be ( initially) ZESCO to take the lead by bringing in intelligent Inverters that can SELL excess power to the Zesco grid. A lot of Zambians would jump to this idea of having a solar system that can sell whatever power they don’t need to ZESCO. Detailed mechanisms can be worked out on how to operate the system. The technology is alredy there, the market exists and what is equired is the will. it is already being done in Thailand. You don’t need an investor who wants 1000’s of hectares to build a solar farm…
So is extremely expensive for powering a city and you need a huge area for the panels. For one household alone to power, lighting, fridges, stoves etc you need close to 200,000 USD.!!! So nuclear power plant is the way to go. ..we shouldn’t be scared ..but all the nation’s we admire are into this nuke.
From 1964 to date, Nevers Mumba has a record which is had to beat in Zambia. Of all Vice Presidents from 1964, he was fired for insubordination after being Vice President for a short period of time That is a champions record that is hard to beat in Zambia for a long time to come.
He is one of those ignorant people who do not know that hydro electric power depends on how much rain you have.
As a Church goer, not a Christian, the church which he goes to has taught him that the truth saves. Let me, therefore, request my brother not to politicize everything in the hope that Zambians consider him as presidential material. Lies will not take you anywhere.
Something is wrong with black pipo.We have enough sun energy but lack of knowledge has killed this country.We have plenty of water in luapula,northwestern and northern but nothing is happening.We know that it doesnt rain in southern but power stations are being built there.What a waste of resources.Can we build a big power station in luapula province where it rains more.3 years ago we had a same crisis.History repeating itself in black pipo.kutipwa mwe.Our education is so usle–less .Everyone wants a child to be a manager.We need science and technology in this country.Make it a requirement for those giong to college.Without maths and science u can’t proceed to college period.
Time has come for this Ndokota in good governance to address the problem of deforastation affecting our once great nation of Zambia than pretend that all is fine .Electrication of Zambia is almost 90% from hydro sources which comes from rain water .Rainfall patterns is directly linked to the level . Zambia at the moment is crippled by the problem of deforastation .The Ndokota does not seem to care about the situation because he does have electricity at plot one and can eat three free meals all paid up by tax payers money.
The other problem is this that alot of the times he is out globe trotting costing tax payers huge sums of money instead of deligating some of these jobs to his useless ministers .The level of financial indescipline in Zambia from this Knongola twibe government is…
Time has come for this Ndokota in good governance to address the problem of deforastation affecting our once great nation of Zambia than pretend that all is fine .Electrication of Zambia is almost 90% from hydro sources which comes from rain water .Rainfall patterns is directly linked to the level of deforestation. Zambia at the moment is crippled by the problem of deforastation due the expanding housing stocks in most districts .The other problem is that demand on electricity , water ,and sanitation has out stripped supply . People have gone back to using charcoal and the resulting effects is pretty obvious. Deforastations is what you get from using charcoal . The Ndokota does not seem to care about the situation because he does have electricity at plot one and can eat three free meals…
We cant import power from South Africa. Its full of xenophobic blood
You are already importing electricity from South Africa to run South African businesses.
Unfortunately beggars can’t be choosers
Very well stated Rev. Nev
The UN Environment meeting is very important for Zambia a its marshals for “CLIMATE CHANGE” funds to help to address these Challenges of Energy in Zambia’s almost 70% Hydro oriented Generation Portfolio Such high level meetings are necessary for access to funds and Investments towards the necessary Investments in Zambia’s need to achieve energy security for long-term through Renewable s The points raised by Dr are valid but Investments in Energy Sector are ultra mega and requires attachment of executive high level participation for consummation of deals and fast tract developments The measures GOV has taken are in the positive direction because such measures even in the US according…
according to the Energy Emergency and Security response ACT could have been seen to be a drive towards the process including the strategic score card the minister announced Its important for GRZ to attend the UN summit and participate in climate change discussions and Marshall Investments in Energy There is also a new report UN Global Investments in Energy Trends 2019 that is helpful to see the reasons why There should not be a Gov shut down in such meetings as it will be positive towards access to investments in those new energy Technologies we much need now and for long-term to come
We need to let the old now the challenges we are facing with Kariba Dam and the UN Environment is…
Rather its at the UN meeting and in particular the UN Environment the Global Trends in Energy Generation and Investments will be tabled and discussed for Global leaders and Investors to see the risks and opportunities presented in Energy The new report by the UN Global Investments on Energy Investments Trends 2019 is helpful for GRZ to participate and discuss to attract t to investments in those alternative methods and new energy Technologies we much need now and for long-term to come to overcome similar challenges of low water levels in Kariba Dam Zambezi basins and Kafue
Pastor Mumba is a blind man who wants to lead the way for people with eyes.
Good comment of how Pastor Mumba and Mwanawasa saved money from all government departments but forgot to expand on power genatrating capital projects for the time like this.
Therefore such leaders like Pastor Mumba and MMD are leaders without foresight. Bible quote ‘where there is no Vision people perish.
Pastor Mumba you have out lived your usefulness.
Shut your loud mouth yoou are a preacher.